Food service tray

Abstract

A tray ( 10 ) for carrying food and beverage in a restaurant has a substantially planar tray bottom portion ( 12 ), and an upwardly extending peripheral sloping wall ( 13 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tray for carrying food and beverage in a restaurant, the tray comprising: 
 a substantially planar tray bottom portion;    an upwardly extending peripheral sloping wall arranged to surround said substantially planar tray bottom portion;    an outwardly extending flange arranged to surround said upwardly extending peripheral sloping wall;    first and second handle portions coupled to said outwardly extending flange, said first and second handle portions being disposed in distal opposition with respect to each other and arranged to have respective ones of first and second upper surfaces that extend outward beyond the predetermined outward extent of said outwardly extending flange; and    first and second items of molded-in information disposed on said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions.    
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second handle portions are integrally formed with said outwardly extending flange.  
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information are each molded into said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions so as to have a depth characteristic of approximately between 0.003″ and 0.008″.  
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information are each molded into said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions so as to have a depth characteristic of approximately between 0.005″ to 0.007″.  
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information are each molded onto said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions so as to have a height characteristic of approximately between 0.003″ and 0.008″.  
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information are each molded into said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions so as to have a height characteristic of approximately between 0.005″ to 0.007″.  
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information are each provided with a textured surface finish having a height characteristic of approximately between 0.005″ to 0.007″.  
     
     
         8 . A tray for carrying food and beverage in a restaurant, the tray comprising: 
 a substantially planar tray bottom portion;    an upwardly extending peripheral sloping wall arranged to surround said substantially planar tray bottom portion and being integrally formed therewith;    an outwardly extending flange arranged to surround said upwardly extending peripheral sloping wall and being integrally formed therewith;    first and second handle portions coupled to said outwardly extending flange, said first and second handle portions being arranged to have respective ones of first and second upper surfaces that extend outward beyond the predetermined outward extent of said outwardly extending flange, in opposite directions; and    first and second items of molded-in information disposed on said first and second upper surfaces of said first and second handle portions, said first and second items of molded-in information having a height/depth characteristic of approximately between 0.005″ to 0.007″.    
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information comprise advertising information.  
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 9 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information comprise textured logo information.  
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second items of molded-in information comprise textured advertising information.